What would you do if a christian tried to push their beliefs on your child when you are atheist?

Answer 1

I would be VERY upset. I am an atheist. My children are allowed to make up their own minds on what they believe, however, I want them to find out, not have someone cram things down their throats.

Answer 2

I'd probably confront them about it, tell them to back off and leave the raising of my child to me as their mother, not them as someone they don't know, let alone isn't related to them.

If that didn't work, I could always be a bit vindictive and start teaching their kids about atheism to get the hint across, particularly if they were overly persistent after repeated requests to cut it out or particularly nasty.

If that didn't work, well, short of going to the extremes of a restraining order, I'd just have my kid ignore them and refuse to talk to them. That's about anything a person CAN do in such a situation; confront, taste of their own medicine, avoidance.

Remember, for both Christians and atheists and anyone else that comes across someone trying to teach your child something counter to your own beliefs and morals(by the way, this by no means extends to schools and government, just so that nobody gets any bright ideas from what I'm trying to say), YOU are your child's parent, not them. They don't have any right to try and teach your child what to do if they're not their parent, no more than you have the right to teach their kids how to be.

I'm aware that the above paragraph could be taken as hypocritical to what I said in part 2 of what I'd do, but that's something I'd do ONLY if the person trying to convert my child against their and my will didn't get the hint otherwise. Some people unfortunately won't understand what they're doing until it's done to them. If a person understood that what they were doing wasn't right the first time, then a confrontation and telling them to cut it out is fine. Probably the best, really, next to outright avoidance.

Some people can be stubborn and it's the stubborn, persistent ones that tend to need to have the shoe get put on the other foot to understand how it feels.

Answer 3

I would want my child to be exposed to all kinds of religions and beliefs besides my own. If I were an atheist, I would not want to try and make my child also be an atheist by constantly pushing my viewpoint on him/her. Likewise, I would not want anyone else try to push their viewpoint on my child. I would have no problem with my child being exposed to religions and learning about them and their differences, and then making up his/her own mind what to believe. Certainly I would not want my child brainwashed as is the case in many cultures that do not enjoy freedom.

Answer 4

Allow me to play devils advocate (no pun intended). It is wrong to push things on anyone period...end of sentence. However, is it being pushed on your child or is it a matter of perception or disapproval of a different way of thinking? Take into consideration for a moment that this person may be actually trying to teach your child his/her beliefs out of love and concern. The christian faith is based on salvation by knowing Christ teachings and obeying them, if a person does not know Christ they are to spend eternity in misery....Again, playing devils advocate! Let me put this out there, Most Christians do not believe in evolution and Christian children are taught this everyday despite they're beliefs and teachings of their families. How would that make you feel. I suggest you discuss honestly with your child your beliefs and that not everyone believes the same things you do and trust your child to make up they're own mind. The only thing is you need to be ready to accept the decision they make. After all, this is, as parents our ultimate goal. To raise our children to make decisions independently. One of you is right and one is wrong, you aren't going to know who that is until it's all over!!!!!

Answer 5

Or vise versa. I would be extremely upset. I would tell the person thank you for your sharing your opinion, but we chose to live this way and believe this way. Be nice when you say, I don't push my beliefs off on to either you or your family and I would hope that you share that respect back. That is the nicest thing I can think of aside from yelling at them and telling them to butt out and mind their own business. :O)

Answer 6

If you mean force I would tell them to go away and let a religions teacher at school educate my child in religion before deciding.
If you mean to just tell my child what happens in the bible I'd be fine with it, providing I could stay in the room and make sure theres no forced conversion going on.

Answer 7

I am an atheist also but I let my children believe what they choose to believe and they are 12,10 and 14. If your child, depending on the age, wants to believe in god in a christian way then what can you really do about it?

Answer 8

I would teach my children to express to them that they are able to think for themselfs, and make decisions for themselfs so therefore if their beliefs are wanted , they will be looked up and asked about.

Answer 9

Teach my child tolerence.

Answer 10

politely let them know that they may teach their own child anything they wish but I prefer they leave my child alone